![Horton House Scone Company, the perfect complement to St. Patty’s Day](https://millertonnews.com/media-library/married-for-20-years-cynthia-and-john-vergilii-of-amenias-horton-house-scone-company-are-indeed-a-perfect-pairing-in-both-life.jpg?id=48194846&width=980&quality=90)
Married for 20 years, Cynthia and John Vergilii of Amenia’s Horton House Scone Company are indeed a perfect pairing in both life and business. Photo submitted
AMENIA — Residents yearning for something a trifle sweet, relatively healthy and incredibly satisfying — whether on this St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17, or any other day of the year — will realize they’ve struck gold when they taste what Horton House Scone Company has been baking in Amenia since it opened last May.
Although scones may be traditionally Scottish, rather than Irish, they are nonetheless delicious come St. Patty’s Day or any other time. Especially the ones made by bakers Cynthia and John Vergilii of the Horton House Scone Company.
Before relocating to their new digs in Amenia (from where they ship their scones; they do not have a physical bakery), the Vergiliis previously owned the historic Joseph Horton House in Wappingers Falls. When in the southern end of the county, the duo dressed in costume and held high tea lunches and Colonial dinners.
Over the years, the house became a destination on the local bus tour circuit, welcoming 10,000 people a year.
Well-known for their scones and inventory of Harney & Sons tea, both of which were featured at high tea. They also sold their scones commercially.
Years after selling their house in Wappingers, when considering their next move, their daughter suggested they stay with her in Fishkill. She urged them to return to their tea and scone business.
At John’s suggestion, the couple started selling their baked scones at the Dutchess Flea Market in Fishkill. Between that time, the Vergiliis gave up eating meat and animal products, meaning they were no longer baking with cream, eggs or dairy products.
Asked about the pros and cons of switching to a plant-based diet, Cynthia explained it’s all about making substitutions and finding items that taste just as good. While it can be tricky, the health benefits are highly rewarding.
“If you have the right recipe, you can do just about everything,” Cynthia said, adding that she and John love fooling people with their healthier ingredients that taste just as indulgent.
While at the flea market, the Vergiliis were asked by customers if they had dairy-free, nut-free or gluten-free scones. That inspired them to bake with even healthier ingredients.
After some fine-tuning, Horton House Scone Company had the Vergiliis’ scones circulating through local farmers markets, retail stores and other venues. Just recently, their scones started selling at LaBonne’s Market in Salisbury, Conn.
Cynthia said, “Moving up here was amazing and we didn’t even realize, truly, when we moved here how the people in this area value locally-made and locally-sourced products, so we are thrilled to be able to offer as many local products as we can.”
Asked how their recipes have changed, John said they’ve fine-tuned their baking to use Hudson Valley cold-pressed sunflower oil or grapeseed oil in place of butter, as well as syrup sourced right in Amenia. All of their goodies are sweetened with either maple syrup or ground coconut.
As for her recipe for running a successful business with her husband, Cynthia said, “I would say we love working together; 20 years we’ve been married and we’re best friends.”
Between John’s computer and marketing skills and Cynthia’s creativity and ability to keep their inventory organized, the pair is perfectly paired as both life partners and business partners.
Baking from the comfort of their apartment, they recently added low-sugar cookies to their offerings in addition to their scones.
Cynthia also achieved her dream of pairing their scones with Harney & Sons tea and Irving Farm coffee; both popular manufacturers and retailers from Millerton.
Horton House has gift boxes of “perfect pairings” that put the Vergiliis on the map for presents; John said their merchandise places an emphasis on the beautiful Hudson Valley and its products.
The husband-and-wife duo recommend trying all the teas to find which ones pairs best with their flavorful scones; they’ve created some delicious combinations during the last few months to get scone enthusiasts started.
One suggestion is their blueberry muffin scone with Harney’s “Blueberry Green” tea; or their cinnamon scone with “Hot Cinnamon Spice” tea; their low-sugar chocolate chip cookie with “Chocolate Mint” tea is another winner.
These pairings and others may be found online at www.hortonhousesconecompany.com. To place an order, go to the website or call 207-317-6950; orders are shipped Mondays through Thursdays.
Along with accommodating special requests, the Vergiliis offer custom-made labels for special occasions and are happy to work with people interested in selling their scones at their stores or at special events.
CANAAN, Conn. — Virginia “Ginny” Cables, 81, passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2024, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan, surrounded by family. Born to the late Marie K. Negri and George Ralph on Dec. 7, 1942, Ginny lived a life full of love, laughter, and dedication to her family.
A devoted homemaker, Ginny took great pride in creating a warm and welcoming home. She had a deep love for gardening, cooking, baking, and thrifting. She took pride in nurturing flowers and plants that brought beauty to her surroundings. Animals always held a special place in her heart, and she was known for her kindness and care towards them.
Ginny’s greatest joy came from spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She cherished family gatherings, whether they were simple picnics or special events, where she could share stories, laughter, and love. Those who knew her will forever remember her quick wit, sense of humor, and the radiant smile that brightened every room she entered.
Ginny leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and warmth that will be cherished by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. She will be remembered by her nicknames “Aunt Squeak” “Grandma Gin” “Ginny” to everyone she met.
Ginny leaves behind her daughter, Michele M. Cables Wilkinson of Sheffield, Massachusetts and her son Frederick E. Cables Jr. and his wife Anita Cables of Canaan; grandchildren, Chelsea Quenneville Brown (Joseph Brown), Blake Wilkinson, Logan and Miranda Cables; great grandchildren, Jade and Kristina Brown and Ethan Robles; her siblings, Richard Ralph (Cecelia), Stanley Ralph (Rosemary), David Ralph (Vicky) and Donna Roux (Ronald). She was also survived by her several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Marie K. Negri and father George Ralph, her husband, Fredrick Cables Sr., her siblings, Burt Veronesi and Valerie Poley.
Calling hours will be Friday, Sept. 13, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in Canaan, CT. A celebration of life will be held at the Canaan VFW on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 1-4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Litchfield County, Salisbury Branch, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury CT 06068 or The Little Guild of St. Francis in Ginny’s memory.
MILLERTON — Linda Kaplan, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin and friend, passed away Sept. 3, 2024. Linda will be remembered as a deeply kind woman guided by faith, family and love.
Linda was born to Francis Crawford and Lydia Johnson (nee Snyder) in Sharon, on Sept. 14, 1942. She attended Webutuck High School in Millerton, and then started her career in banking, where she worked until her retirement as a Vice President. Linda was a loving mother who raised her two sons and instilled in them her love of faith and family.
Linda met her future husband, Sanford (Sam) Kaplan, at a dance in Millerton, and they were blessed with 30 years of marriage during which they enjoyed their time on Simmons Street. Here, Linda enjoyed tending to her garden where she could be found picking green beans and tomatoes. She also enjoyed solving the daily crossword puzzle, knitting, and listening to Sam play his guitar. Together, Linda and Sam enjoyed hosting their family for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Passover celebrations. They especially enjoyed annual summer visits by their granddaughters which always included visits to their farm where they rode ATVs. Linda and Sam’s interest in dairy farming led them to travel to Europe where they toured dairy farms; a trip they fondly recounted to their family for years.
Linda’s faith was evident, not only through her family, but also through her involvement with the Millerton Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed community outreach, singing in the choir, working with children, teaching ESL classes, and helping to develop and implement programs.
Linda is predeceased by her husband, Sam Kaplan, her mother, father, and brother Thomas Crawford. She is survived by her two sons; Lorin Stapleton and his wife Mary Stapleton of Brewster, New York, and Brian Stapleton of Sandisfield, Massachusettds; her two granddaughters, Bridget Stapleton of Jersey City, New Jersey and Colleen Stapleton of Boston, Massachusetts; her sister-in-law, Susan Crawford; nephew David Keys and his wife Barbara; niece Susan Jenkins and her husband Rick Herring.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church of St. Mary in Lakeville, CT. Rev. Dennis Arambasick will officiate. Burial will follow at Irondale Cemetery in Millerton, NY. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
David Colbert with one of his sculptures on the sculpture walk he has created over 35 years.
The Cornwall Open Studio took place on Saturday, Aug. 31. It is a Cornwall tradition and has been taking place for eighteen years.
It is a day when Cornwall artists invite the public into their studios to see what they are working on and how they do it. The artists work in various media, including painting, sculpture, photography and artistic shoes.
To participate, prospective tourists go to cornwallct.org/event/cornwall-open-studio-2024/ where a map and a list of the artists is available to download and print. The event is free, there is no registration, and so armed with the map, those taking the tour are set to explore not only artists’ studios, but the beautiful drive through Cornwall.
David Colbert, sculptor, is the initiator of the event. He said of his work, “I was smitten by the geometry and eventually the geometry led me to art.” Behind his studio in Cornwall Bridge he has a quarter mile sculpture path which he has been building for the past thirty-five years. Those on the tour could meander down the path and enjoy the beauty of the geometrically derived works.
Asked if there were any special artists and studios that should not be missed, he said, “I can’t help but mention Tim Prentice, whose shop, barn and whole place is pretty amazing.” At Prentice’s studio in West Cornwall, an old barn, mobiles, and other kinetic works of art hang from walls and ceilings and populate the surrounding fields. Across the road, another barn holds larger sculptures.
At 93, Prentice still works most days in the studio beside his house. He said he works on “small things.” He struggles with fading eyesight due to macular degeneration. He will be in a film by The Vision and Art Project, which seeks to bring awareness of macular degeneration by featuring artists like Tim Prentice. The film will be shown at the Cornwall Library sometime in the coming months.
In spite of his failing eye sight, he enjoys getting out to the studio and working and was welcoming visitors on the tour.
Another interesting studio is that of Lauren Brinkers Shoes in Cornwall Bridge. The shoes are hand painted and “one of a kind.” “I studied in London and went to shoe making school there,” Brinkers said. “I studied traditional men’s shoe making and transitioned into women’s.” She wanted to bring “more color and expression into shoes.” She learned how to work with leather dyes and paints the shoes to accomplish this goal.
A display of Lauren Brinkers handmade, one of a kind , hand paintied shoes on display at her Cornwall studio.Robin Roraback
Next to Lauren Brinkers’ studio is that of Stephan Sagmiller, who shows with his photographs that “The world is worth looking at closely. You’ve got to look at them up close. That’s my ethos as an artist.” His photos are large and colorful and invite you to do just that — look up close.
In West Cornwall, the abstract landscapes of Suzan Scott were on display at the Souterrain Gallery. Scott says of her work, “I’ve always had a strong connection with nature. I see everything, every blade of grass.” It was overwhelming for her. She began to paint still lives thinking they’d be easier, but in doing so she realized that still lives are similar to landscapes in that she could break down the parts as she did for still lives. “Why not go out and do landscapes and simplify them — abstract them?”
Her process is to layer tinted glazes, sometimes as many as thirty. She will work on a painting, let it rest, go back to it, work some more, and continue this until the painting is finished, which can take a week or months.
Scott paints scenes from the northwest corner and has “favorite spots” that she revisits. “The more I see it, the more I can interpret it, and it becomes mine.”
These are just a few of the artists on the tour. There were also Curt Hanson’s beautiful landscapes and the looser, colorful paintings of Magaly Ohika, Katherine Freygang and Sally Van Doren. Photographers Nick Jacobs and Bela Selendy also opened their studios. They use their cameras to explore life and nature.
If you missed the tour this year, be sure to keep an eye out for it next Labor Day Weekend. It is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. To contact these artists or find out more about their work, go to: cornwallct.org/history-culture/arts-artists/ or go to the tour website to find links to their websites.
Fresh donuts by Hanna Rybolt at ILSE Coffee.
Something scrumptious is cooking beneath Colonial Theatre.
Pastries by Hanna was established in February of 2024 at 27 Railroad St. in North Canaan. The owner, Hanna Rybolt, is a resident of Canaan who studied in the pastry program at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Her interest in baking is rooted in fond memories with her family. The baked goods and pastry products are sold locally at ILSE Coffee just next door, as well as the Great Barrington farmer’s market. Her pastry kitchen is located below Colonial Theatre.
Rybolt aims to ensure the goods are produced with locally grown products and sold in community businesses. Pastries by Hanna’s best-selling product is brioche-style donuts.
The business is solely owned and operated by Rybolt, who stated she is looking forward to what the future will bring for the bakery and is hoping to collaborate with more companies in the area.
Customers can custom order goods online at pastriesbyhanna.com or check out her Instagram page @PastriesbyHanna.